Bubble Meets Droplet: Particle‐Assisted Reconfiguration of Wetting Morphologies in Colloidal Multiphase Systems. Issue 24 (11th May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Yi; Shitta, Abiola; Meredith, J. Carson; Behrens, Sven H.
• Is Part Of: Small. Volume 12:Issue 24(2016)
• Page Start: 3309
• Page End: 3319
• Publication Date: 2016-05-11
• Subjects: colloids -- interfaces -- nanoparticles -- surface chemistry -- wetting; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanoparticles -- Periodicals; Microtechnology -- Periodicals; 620.5
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.201600799
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1613-6810

Abstract

Abstract : Wetting phenomena are ubiquitous in nature and play key functions in various industrial processes and products. When a gas bubble encounters an oil droplet in an aqueous medium, it can experience either partial wetting or complete engulfment by the oil. Each of these morphologies can have practical benefits, and controlling the morphology is desirable for applications ranging from particle synthesis to oil recovery and gas flotation. It is known that the wetting of two fluids within a fluid medium depends on the balance of interfacial tensions and can thus be modified with surfactant additives. It is reported that colloidal particles, too, can be used to promote both wetting and dewetting in multifluid systems. This study demonstrates the surfactant‐free tuning and dynamic reconfiguration of bubble‐droplet morphologies with the help of cellulosic particles. It further shows that the effect can be attributed to particle adsorption at the fluid interfaces, which can be probed by interfacial tensiometry, making particle‐induced transitions in the wetting morphology predictable. Finally, particle adsorption at different rates to air–water and oil–water interfaces can even lead to slow, reentrant wetting behavior not familiar from particle‐free systems. Abstract : The wetting of air bubbles by oil droplets in an aqueous medium can be altered through the presence of colloidal particles. Cellulosic particles can be used both to promote "bubble wetting" and induce complete bubble engulfment by an oil drop and to trigger "bubble dewetting." In addition to promoting bubble wetting and dewetting, particle adsorption at different rates to air–water and oil–water interfaces can lead to reentrant wetting behavior with slow transition dynamics.